In a move to cushion the effects of delayed entitlements, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has approved the immediate release of ₦3.8 billion to the Kaduna State Pension Bureau for the payment of gratuities, death benefits, and accrued rights under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The directive comes on the heels of multiple appeals by pensioners and families of deceased civil servants, who expressed concerns over the hardship caused by delays related to the ongoing pensioner verification exercise.
According to a statement from the governor’s spokesperson, Ibrahim Musa, the verification process aims to eliminate “ghost” pensioners and ensure the effective use of the state’s limited resources.
“The governor gave the order on compassionate grounds after considering the passionate pleas of the pensioners and families of deceased civil servants…”
Governor Sani also instructed the Pension Bureau to begin immediate disbursement to qualified beneficiaries, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the welfare of senior citizens and retired public servants.
“He [Governor Sani] restated that the verification exercise is aimed at weeding out ‘ghost’ pensioners… to curtail the frittering away of the State’s meagre resources.”
Governor Sani emphasized that his administration remains committed to a transparent and uninterrupted pension payment system in Kaduna State.
“The senior citizens devoted their lives to the service of Kaduna State and must be given all the needed support to make them happy in retirement.”
He also assured that the verification exercise would be concluded promptly to restore normalcy to pension disbursements.
Since assuming office in May 2023, Governor Uba Sani has released a total of ₦6.6 billion for the settlement of gratuities, death benefits, and accrued pension rights in Kaduna State.
This latest intervention reflects the administration’s continued efforts to improve the living conditions of pensioners, promote transparency in public finance, and deliver social justice for retired civil servants.